Take2 weeks ago
Burnett had elbow surgery days before placing 2nd at Langkawi
Josh Burnett had overnight elbow surgery two days before Le Tour de Langkawi 2026 began, after a car pulled out on him and left a large wound requiring a midnight cleaning procedure. On stage 5, he finished second, 8 seconds behind stage winner Nicolas Breuillard, after being part of a breakaway with Breuillard and Valentin Retailleau that at one point put him virtually in the race lead on the road. He was seventh overall in the general classification after stage 5.
The crash happened two days before the race began, and Burnett had to have overnight surgery to repair his elbow. He said being on the start line was "a bit of a bonus" given the circumstances. Stage 5 finished with a hors catégorie climb in Genting Highlands that Burnett had targeted before arriving in Malaysia. With 2.6 km remaining, Breuillard accelerated and Burnett could not follow, finishing second. Burnett said he felt strong and had done most of the work riding for the GC, but cramped in both legs when Breuillard attacked, and knew that trying to follow would have stopped both legs from working. Burnett's last top-10 result before Le Tour de Langkawi 2026 was 140 days prior, in stage 5 of the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling race.
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